Final answer:
Drum brake systems are cost-effective, have a self-adjusting mechanism, perform well under various conditions, and provide effective parking brake functionality. Their enclosed design aids in managing the heat generated during braking, especially in challenging scenarios such as downhill descents for trucks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Advantages of Using Drum Brake Systems
Drum brake systems offer several advantages that have made them a reliable choice for many vehicles over the years. They tend to be less expensive to manufacture, which can lower the overall cost of a vehicle. Due to their design, drum brakes can also self-adjust to compensate for wear, which can be beneficial in terms of maintenance. Moreover, drum brakes are known to perform well under a variety of conditions, especially when it comes to rear brakes which require less stopping power compared to front brakes. Finally, they have a mechanical advantage because the design allows for a larger surface area for the brake shoe to act upon, which can result in effective parking brake functionality.
Some transport vehicles, such as trucks that need to control speed on a downhill run, utilize the conversion of gravitational potential energy into increased internal energy of the brake material, which is a process that drum brakes can handle effectively. The heat generated from this energy conversion in drum brakes does not affect their performance immediately, due to the enclosed nature of drum brakes which may help in slow dissipation of heat.
In applications where power brakes are necessary, drum brakes can be coupled with systems that use a motorized pump to facilitate most of the braking work, ensuring reliability and effectiveness in heavy machinery like bulldozers as well as in commercial vehicles.